Yesterday, I asked my followers on Facebook if they wanted to help a body pick up a copy of The Guns of August because the library doesn't have a copy to borrow. (Say what?!?!) As no one was gracious enough to oblige (atonement can be made via my Amazon.com wishlist) I picked up a copy today at Barns & Nobel because a friend invited me out for lunch and we decided to go to the bookstore afterwards.

Last summer I read a book. The Guns of August. I wish every man on that blockade line had read that book.

World War One. Thirteen million killed all because the militaries of both alliances believed they were so highly attuned to one another's movements and dispositions, they could predict one another's intentions, but all their theories were based on the last war.

The world and technology had changed, and those lessons were no longer valid,but it was all they knew, so the orders went out. Couldn't be rescinded.

The man in the field, his family at home,they couldn't even tell you the reasons why their lives were being destroyed.

The real purpose of this post though is to show you what was sitting on the checkout counter that I couldn't resist picking up:

My only gripe is that they are too tall and too wide for my liking.

They came in little plastic cases. I'm wondering if they will be worth more later if I leave them in the case. It always sucks when Road Show Antiques tells the person that "if you would have kept that in the original packaging…"

For what it's worth, it's my plan to set up a trip to the IMAX theater at the Grand Ole Opry for the Alice in Wonderland midnight opening. Unlike how this plan with The Dark Knight fell to pieces (even though I accomplished the goal of going with someone so that they could drive back) I'm hoping that this go 'round will be more successful.

My mother bought a beautiful print of Renoir's "The Boating Party" but ultimately gave it to me because its non-standard size was going to be $200+ to frame, and she didn't want to spend the money, on it.

I bought a $20 frame and trimmed and inch and a half from the bottom, and and an inch from the side.

I don't know if I've ever talked about this publicly before or not, but I collect bookmarks. I hate spending money on them, but I love to have them around. Nothing is more annoying to me than reading a book and not having a bookmark when I'm through.

Lately, I've been using business cards (namely Les's first business card). I also like using expired store cards, gift cards and hotel keys. As a general rule, the more colorful the "bookmark" the more I like it.

A specific example is the key from The Chattanoogan. GIS doesn't have an image of it and I'm at work, so I can't scan it in.

If I'm going to buy something off the shelf, I prefer thinner bookmarks. However; I typically don't buy bookmarks unless they really stand out. I don't know what it was about these bookmarks, but something said, "Get these now!" Hence, the post.

Re: Alcie in Wonderland

Because I've been dragging my ass on setting things up on FB and the release date is hard upon us, I went to IMAX's site to see if the film was going to play in Nashville. As it stands, the website doesn't list it, but the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.